Down Home With The Neely's

Tony's Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Sauce

Peanut oil, for frying
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Honey Mustard, recipe follows

Preheat oil to 350 degrees. Cut the chicken breasts into long strips and set aside. Beat the 3 eggs in a separate bowl and measure the flour into another separate dish.

Measure the panko into a pie plate or shallow bowl and season with garlic powder, lemon-pepper, cayenne, salt and pepper. Dip the chicken strips into the flour, the beaten egg and then dredge them into the seasoned panko.

Fry in the hot peanut oil for 6 to 8 minutes, until golden brown, and remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Serve with honey mustard sauce. Makes 3 to 5 servings

Honey Mustard:
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. The sauce can be held in the refrigerator for 1 week.

The Neely's Shrimp Creole

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 large onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups seafood stock or shrimp stock
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, in thick puree
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Dash hot sauce
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds large shrimp (about 32), shelled and deveined
4 tablespoons green onions, sliced for garnish

Heat a large heavy Dutch oven over medium heat. Add oil. Cook garlic, onions, celery, and green bell peppers. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cayenne and let caramelize.

Add the seafood stock, tomatoes, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 35 minutes. Add shrimp and cook about 4 more minutes, until they are bright pink and cooked through. Garnish with green onions. Makes 4 to 6 servings

Pat's Spicy Fried Wings

Spicy Chicken Seasoning
1 tablespoon seasoning salt
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper

12 whole chicken wings, cut in 1/2 at the joint

Spicy Chicken Batter:
2 eggs
2 tablespoons hot sauce
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil, to fry
Dipping Sauce, recipe follows

In a small bowl whisk together seasoning salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, poultry seasoning, and lemon pepper. Reserve 2 tablespoons in a separate bowl.

Rinse chicken wings in cold water and place into a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle the wings evenly with the seasoning, and let them marinate, covered and chilled, for 1 hour.

Whisk eggs, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and cayenne pepper into a medium size mixing bowl. Reserve. Put the flour into a shallow dish or pie plate.

In a large deep-fryer or large Dutch oven heat oil to 350 degrees F on a deep-fat thermometer.

Dredge chicken wings into the egg mixture then into the flour. Place wings 3 at a time into the hot oil and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through and golden brown. Remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Make sure oil returns to temperature before adding the next batch. Sprinkle the wings with the reserved seasoning for extra hot wings. Serve with dipping sauce. Makes 4 servings

Spicy Dipping Sauce:
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons horseradish
1/4 tablespoon chili sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl.

The Neely's BBQ Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Neelys BBQ dry rub seasoning, recipe follows
1/2 lemon, juiced, plus lemon wedges, for garnish
1/4 cup Neely's BBQ sauce, recipe follows
Cocktail Sauce, recipe follows

Rinse shrimp thoroughly in cold water and place in large bowl. Mix cloves, seasoned salt, thyme, mustard, celery salt, pepper, and Neelys seasoning in a small bowl. Sprinkle shrimp with the seasoning mixture and toss. Add lemon juice and the BBQ sauce and mix thoroughly. Cover and let marinate for 20 minutes.

Preheat grill to a medium heat. Place shrimp on grill, directly over heat. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side and fully cooked. Serve with cocktail sauce and garnish with lemon wedges. Makes 6 servings; as appetizer

Neelys BBQ Seasoning:
1 1/2 cups paprika
3/4 cup sugar
3 3/4 tablespoons onion powder

Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir until combined. Keep in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Neelys BBQ Sauce:
2 cups ketchup
1 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons light brown sugar
5 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon ground mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 1 hour 15 minutes. Makes 3 1/2 cups

Cocktail Sauce:
1 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1/2 lemon, juiced
Dash hot sauce

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Serve chilled.

The Neely's Mini Memphis Burgers

1 medium red onion, sliced
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 to 15 small potato rolls, split in 1/2
Mustard sauce, recipe follows

Preheat a flat top grill pan to high heat. Add sliced onion to grill pan and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.

In a medium bowl, mix ground beef, onion powder, salt and freshly ground pepper. Make burgers equal in size, about 2-inches across. Cook burgers on the flat top for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve on split rolls with grilled onions and mustard sauce. Makes 12 to 15 mini burgers

Mustard Sauce:
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl

The Neely's Memphis-Style Catfish

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon hot sauce
4 catfish fillets (8-ounces each) skins and bones removed, rinsed and patted dry
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Peanut oil, for frying
Remoulade Sauce, for dipping, recipe follows

Preheat a deep -fryer to 375 degrees. Mix the cornmeal, paprika and cayenne in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, add the buttermilk and the hot sauce. Season the catfish with salt and pepper. Dredge in the buttermilk and then the cornmeal and spice mixture.

Drop carefully in the hot oil. Fry for 4 minutes until crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 4 servings

Remoulade Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Creole mustard
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon paprika

For the Remoulade sauce:

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. Serve with the catfish.

The Neely's Roasted Cornish Game Hens

1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon-pepper
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 Cornish game hens, about 1 1/2 pounds each, rinsed and dried thoroughly
1 green bell pepper, large dice
2 stalks celery, large dice
1 onion, large dice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small mixing bowl, stir together salt, lemon pepper, dried basil and poultry seasoning. Rub olive oil all over the hens and season each with the salt mixture. Place the hens on a baking sheet pan with plenty of space between them. You may need to use 2 pans.

Loosely stuff the cavities of each hen with some green bell pepper, celery and onion. Roast the hens in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F and the juices run clear. Remove the hens from the oven, loosely tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes before carving or serving.

Notes: Line the baking sheet pan with foil under the wire rack for an easy clean-up. The veggies and herbs stuffed in the cavities of the hens will impart flavor to the meat as it cooks. Be sure not to crowd the hens on the baking sheets or else the skin won't crisp up properly and they will take much longer to cook. Makes 6 servings

The Neely's Portobello Mushroom Fries

Peanut oil, for frying
5 large portobello mushrooms
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 eggs, lightly beaten

Preheat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees. Remove the gills and stems from the underside of the mushrooms and trim the edges off. Slice into 1/4-inch strips.

Measure flour into a pie plate. In another pie plate or bowl, combine panko, Parmigiano, parsley, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper.

Dredge the mushrooms in flour, followed by the egg wash and finally in the panko.

Working in batches, place the breaded mushroom slices in the hot oil and fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel lined sheet tray. Makes 4 servings

The Neely's Barbeque Nachos

1 bag tortilla chips
1/2 cup Neelys Barbecue Seasoning, recipe follows
6 ounces chopped pork, beef or chicken
4 ounces Neelys Barbecue Sauce, recipe follows
4 ounces nacho cheese, melted
1 (4-ounce) can sliced jalapenos, drained

Mound tortilla chips in a pile on a platter. Sprinkle with Neelys Seasoning. Spread chopped pork, beef or chicken on top of chips. Sprinkle with seasoning again and pour the Neelys Barbeque Sauce onto meat. Top with the melted nacho cheese.

Lightly sprinkle more Neely's Barbeque Seasoning onto cheese. Top with jalapenos for additional spice. Makes 3 to 5 servings

Neelys Barbeque Seasoning:
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups paprika
3 3/4 tablespoons onion powder

Mix all ingredients together.

Neelys Barbeque Sauce:
2 cups ketchup
1 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
5 tablespoons light brown sugar
5 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon ground mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and mix well. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer. Cooked uncovered, stirring frequently every 15 minutes, for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Makes 3 1/2 cups

The Neely's Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

1 head garlic
Olive oil
2 pounds red potatoes, washed well and quartered
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice off the very top of the garlic head. Drizzle head with olive oil and wrap in foil. Place on a sheet tray and bake until tender and fragrant, roughly 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Remove the cloves and mash with a wooden spoon.

Place potatoes in a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Add salt and bring to a boil. Cook until fork tender and drain. Mash the potatoes until smooth.

Meanwhile heat butter and cream until butter melts. Add the roasted garlic and potatoes and mash all together. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. Makes 3 to 4 servings

The Neely's Black-Eyed Pea Salad

1 large tomato, diced
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 jalapeno, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cups unseasoned rice wine vinegar
1/4 cups canola oil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans black-eyed peas, drained

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the rice wine vinegar, canola oil, sugar, and salt and pepper. Toss all together and let marinate for at up to 8 hours in the refrigerator before serving. Makes 4 to 6 servings

The Neely's Braised Mustard Greens

3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 pound bacon, chopped
2 bunches mustard greens, chopped
3/4 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup golden raisins
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

On medium heat, saute garlic and bacon in a large saute pan. While bacon is cooking boil water in a large pot. Blanch mustard greens in boiling water until bright green.

Note: Add a few greens a little bit at a time into boiling water. Make room for more greens by pushing down with a spoon. Drain greens.

In a saute pan with the bacon, add greens and garlic. Stir together. Add chicken stock and raisins. Mix well together. Add salt and pepper, for taste, and let simmer for 5 minutes. Makes 3 to 4 servings

The Neely's Collard Green and Artichoke Dip

4 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 shallot, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 pint heavy whipping cream
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 lemon, juiced
Dash hot sauce
Dash Worcestershire sauce
2 (10-ounce) boxes collard greens, thawed and drained
1 (14-ounce) jar artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute until it reaches a golden blonde color. Slowly whisk in the cream and turn up heat until it thickens.

Add the Parmesan and Cheddar. Stir until the cheese has melted. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire. Fold in the collard greens and artichoke hearts.

Add mixture to a casserole dish. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Serve this dip with baked pita chips. Makes 8 to 10 servings

The Neely's Frozen Lemonade Pie

Graham Cracker Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
7 tablespoons butter, melted

Lemonade filling:
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk, chilled
1 (12 ounce) container whip topping, thawed
1 (6 fluid ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, keep frozen
1 teaspoon candied lemon peel

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of sugar, and the melted butter. Press firmly on bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake for 7 minutes and let cool completely.

In a medium bowl, add chilled sweetened condensed milk and cool whip and fold gently. Add frozen lemonade and continue to gently fold. Do not let the mixture become soupy. Pour mixture into the pie crust and freeze overnight. Garnish with candied lemon peel. Makes 8 servings

The Neely's Shelbi's Butter Cookies

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sifted sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Sift together flour and salt into a bowl. In the bowl of a standing mixer, add the butter and mix on medium-high until fluffy and light. Add the sugar and the eggs, 1 at a time, until and mix until combined.

Add vanilla and cinnamon. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour to the butter, sugar, egg mixture. Mix until batter looks smooth. Place dough onto a flowered cutting board and cut the dough into quarters, flatten and wrap with the plastic. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a rolling pin covered in flour, roll out dough quarters 1 at a time, on a floured work surface to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thick. Use a variety of cutters to cut out cookies. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment and space cookies about 1 1/2-inches apart.

Bake cookies until they are golden brown, about 8 minutes. Using a using a spatula, transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Makes 24 cookies

Mama Daisy's Banana Pudding

2 1/2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
2 (12-ounce) cans evaporated milk
4 egg yolks
1/2 stick butter, cubed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 box vanilla wafers, plus more for garnish, crumbled
5 bananas, sliced
Whipped cream

In a 3-quart heavy saucepan on low heat, add sugar, flour and salt. Pour in the evaporated milk and stir constantly. The mixture will thicken slowly, about 10 minutes.

Lightly beat the egg yolks in a medium size bowl. Add a ladleful of the thickened milk mixture to the eggs and whisk, to temper the eggs. Add the egg mixture into the saucepan and continue to whisk and cook until incorporated, roughly 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the butter and the vanilla extract. Place the pudding into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let cool in refrigerator for 2 1/2 hours.

Into a large bowl or trifle dish, add a layer of vanilla wafers, a layer of sliced bananas, and top with pudding. Add the whipped cream and then repeat the layers. Garnish with crumbled cookies on top. Makes 8 servings

The Neely's Watermelon Sorbet

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
4 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons grenadine
3 fresh mint leaves
1 (3-pound) seedless watermelon

In a small saucepan, bring sugar, syrup, lemon juice, grenadine and mint leaves to a boil dissolving the sugar granules. Let cool slightly. Cut the rind off the watermelon and cut into chunks. Puree half of the chopped watermelon in a blender.

Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a large glass bowl. Repeat with remaining watermelon. Add slightly cooled syrup mixture and mix well to incorporate. Place sorbet into a 2-quart plastic container and freeze for 3 to 4 hours. Makes 4 servings

The Neely's Buttermilk Cupcakes with Chocolate Icing

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 large yolks
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 stick butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together onto a sheet of parchment paper.

In a large bowl beat the eggs, yolks and sugar together. Add the melted butter, vanilla and buttermilk to the mixture. Add the dry ingredients gradually into the batter. Mix until smooth. It will appear light and fluffy.

Ladle and divide the batter evenly among muffin cups and bake for about 18 minutes, or until a toothpick tester comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before frosting.

For the frosting: Beat the butter and cream cheese until creamy. Add confectioners' sugar slowly, while mixing in melted chocolate and vanilla extract. Makes 12 cupcakes

The Neely's Apple Crisp

Filling:
5 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, chopped small
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Topping:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into pieces
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For the Filling: Mix all the ingredients together. Place into 7 to 8-ounce ramekins.

For topping: Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Blend the butter into the mixture until it forms pea size lumps. Stir in pecans and sprinkle over filling. Bake crisps for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving. Makes about 8 servings

The Neely's Fried Green Beans

Peanut oil, for frying
1 cup beer
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed

Preheat oil to 375 degrees. Whisk the beer, flour, salt and pepper until smooth.

Dip green beans into batter to coat, letting excess drip off. Fry in the peanut oil in batches, until they are golden and crisp. Remove from oil with a spider strainer to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Makes 4 to 6 servings

The Neely's Hot and Spicy Hush Puppies

1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup self-rising flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 small sweet onion, finely chopped
1/2 jalapeno, finely chopped
4 green onions, sliced thin
1 large egg, beaten
1/4 cup grated Cheddar
1 cup buttermilk
Orange dipping sauce, recipe follows

Preheat deep fryer to 375 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together into a large mixing bowl to form a thick batter.

Dip 2 tablespoon spoons into water. Using the spoons scoop up some of the batter and drop into the hot oil. Work in batches. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden and brown. Remove and drain on a paper towel lined sheet tray. Serve with dipping sauce. Makes 4 to 5 servings

Gina's Orange Dipping Sauce:
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup orange marmalade

Mix the above ingredients together.

The Neely's Fried Deviled Eggs

1 dozen eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon chopped chives
Dash hot sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purposeflour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup panko crumbs
Parsley, for garnish
Peanut oil, for frying

Add the eggs to a large saucepan filled with cold water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit in the water for 14 minutes.

Peel the eggs and slice lengthwise. Remove the yolks to a bowl. Add the mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon zest, chives, hot sauce and salt and pepper. Mash the yolks together with a wooden spoon. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed. Fill the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, add 1 cup of flour and season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, beat the eggs, in a third bowl, add 1 cup of panko.

Dip the eggs into the flour, then the egg and finally into the panko. Gently put the eggs into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley. Makes 3 to 4 servings

The Neely's Southern Creamed Corn

8 ears corn, husked
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup cold water
2 tablespoons bacon grease
1 tablespoons butter

In a large bowl, cut the tip off cob. Cut the kernels from cob with a small paring knife. Using the back of the blade, scrape against the cob to press out the milky liquid.

Whisk together sugar, flour, and salt and pepper, to taste. Combine with corn. Add the heavy cream and water. Mix.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat bacon grease. Add corn mixture and turn heat down to medium-low, stirring until it becomes creamy, about 30 minutes. Add the butter right before serving. Makes 2 to 4 servings

The Neely's Creamed Collard Greens

4 pounds collard greens (4 bunches), tough stems and ribs removed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 large shallots, minced
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 pound Parmesan, grated

Bring a very large stockpot of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add half of the collard greens to the boiling water, a little at a time, and push them down into the water.

Let the water return to a boil, then cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the greens to the bowl with the ice water to reserve. Repeat with the remaining greens. Drain the greens very well and squeeze them dry in a kitchen towel, then finely shred.

In a very large skillet, melt the butter. Add the shallots and garlic and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, about 25 minutes.

Add the greens to the cream and toss until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Season generously with nutmeg and salt and pepper. Add to serving dish and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Makes 8 to 12 servings

The Neely's Stewed Okra and Tomatoes

4 slices bacon
1 onion, chopped
3 cups sliced okra
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a heavy bottomed saute pan over medium-high heat, add the bacon. Render the bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and reserve. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 3 minutes.

Add the okra and tomatoes, making sure to add the reserved juice from the tomatoes to the saute pan. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 15 minutes.

Note: If needed, add water or chicken stock if the pan becomes too dry. Makes 3 to 4 servings